Loan Forgiveness FAQ

· Who pays for the loan forgiveness programs?

o Funds for each of the programs proposed here would be appropriated by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in each year’s budget and would be available to as many qualified applicants as can be supported by the allocated funds.

· What happens if a recipient leaves before the commitment to work a certain number of years is complete?

o For each bill proposed, if the recipient fails to meet the obligations of the agreement or is convicted of/pleads guilty to a felony the loan repayment must be repaid.

· As a legislator, why should I give loan forgiveness to social workers specifically when there are many who have high educational debt?

o Social workers are essential to the public health of the Commonwealth, and yet we face a significant shortage in qualified professionals that will just get larger with rising demand. With educational costs increases and wages for social workers staying stagnant, we face losing many skilled individuals to other professions. We need to attract and retain social workers, and relief of educational debt encourages people to go into the social work profession.

o Unlike other professions requiring advanced degrees, social work is uniquely faced with low salaries, in part because they work with vulnerable populations and for non-profit agencies that may not be able to aord higher salaries and maintain the level of services. Social workers make sacrifices for the greater good, and deserve the support of the Commonwealth.